Joe LaCava, and the caddy to 14-time Major winning Tiger Woods has predicted that only will Wood return to competition but compete again at the game’s highest level.

LaCava has not caddied for Woods since ‘Tigermania’ gripped last August’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina and where Woods was competing for a first time in his career.

Since then Woods has undergone more back surgery and with the golf world in general divided in opinion as to whether Woods will retire or come back to the game he dominated in the late 90s and through to 2008 when he was a 14th and last Major in capturing the U.S. Open.

LaCava has spent more time at home with his wife and family than he would have thought but he’s quietly-confident he will be back calling the shots for Woods.

Joe LaCava is prepared to stand by his man – Tiger Woods.

And LaCava, who previously caddied for Dustin Johnson and Fred Couples, has knocked back offers from other players and wait for Woods.

“A couple of guys approached me to caddy for them, I don’t want to name any names, but I (politely) said no,” LaCava told ESPN.

“My plan is to wait for Tiger to get back. I’ve told them I just want to work for Tiger and nobody else at this point. They were all nice about it. They didn’t know what my situation was. I’ve elected to wait things out with Tiger and that is my plan going forward.

“I know what he’s capable of. I saw it these years I worked for him. We all know he has the ability. He certainly hasn’t lost any of his work ethic. “Does the back issue worry people? I lived it with Fred. When you have a back issue it’s tough, in all sports, specifically golf.

“I still have faith he’s going to continue to do well and win. My thought is he will overcome the injury or whatever you want to call it. He might not be able to play as often as he would like. Once he’s healed from this, he’ll come back and play again and play well. My outlook is basically the same as when I started with him. He’s Tiger Woods.”